Recovering alcoholic/addict, Callie Moore, unexpectedly reconnects with a family friend who bailed her out of trouble a few times. After Callie burned him when she relapsed, Danny Parker is hesitant to give her another chance. Growing up with an addicted parent gives him the perspective to see the difference in Callie now. Their romance is the first healthy relationship Callie has had besides her sister. Callie’s past jeopardizes her reconciliation with her sister and clarifies Danny’s feelings for her.
I felt the author handled the touchy subject of addiction extremely well and the touching author’s note at the end addresses this issue. I really enjoyed reading this story and loved revisiting the men of Haven.

Ms Morgan has written yet another amazing book. While it was a tough read (I struggle with stories about drug addiction) it was also a brilliant read. The whole topic of drug addiction was handled with care, respect, and compassion. I felt Callie's struggle and kept cheering her on. I understood Danny's conflict between wanting to help, not wanting to take advantage, and dealing with his attraction. As always, I love all the men and women of Haven. I love that whole dynamic, the sense of family, the strong bond, and the support they give each other. What a wonderful book. I am glad to be back in this world.

I loved the Men of Haven series so I was really excited to read this book. I just couldn't get into it. I was missing the fast paced action and zing of the other stories. It was okay but honestly, forgettable.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

I have a family history of addiction & drug & alcohol abuse & I was both wondering how those topics would be treated in a romance & also aware that I was coming to the table with my own experiences & feelings on the topic.

Now that I’ve offered that review caveat I’ll say that in general I love redemption stories + second chance stories, how much hope they offer & how satisfying the narrative arc often is, & in the case of Trusted & True by Rhenna Morgan, protagonist Callie Moore is clearly invested in making good choices & in “making amends.”

She’s obviously done a lot of work thinking about her past actions, triggers, and motivations & leans heavily on the things that help her stay healthy & safe.

In general I really enjoyed Rhenna Morgan’s focus on blue collar leads & found family with this romance, & the hero Danny’s admissions that professionally, he’s not satisfied.

But I have two big problems with this romance. First, the relationship between Danny & Callie just moves so quickly. The end, in particular, feels rushed.

Second, two of Callie’s past actions—really big & tbh troubling admissions—are just lobbed into the plot & then they’re pretty easily dismissed by the characters…but not by me. Callie made a huge mistake when she was a teen in particular—one that makes me feel very uncomfortable but the other characters are kind of like, oh it’s okay (obviously exaggerating some here).

I believe in second chances but the execution of a second chance arc just doesn’t totally work for me in this book. Maybe if these were things the characters had started to process before the book started—instead of being quickly introduced in this book—it would have been more successful for me.

2.5 ⭐️. Release date: 05/24


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CW: past alcohol & drug abuse. When Callie was a teen she lied about attempted sexual assault, apparently ultimately contributing to her father’s death. Her father introduced her to drinking & his behavior encouraged it. Parental abandonment.

ID: a white hand holds up an ebook in front of a crowded white bookcase.

I couldn’t get into this one. I couldn’t relate to Callie or Danny even though I felt Danny was a fun character and Callie deserved her second chance. Not sure why this one didn’t work out for me… it just didn’t.

If you are not already familiar with the Men of Haven, you have missed out on something wonderful!!

I (along with many) anxiously awaited the release of this story, and it was well worth the wait. The main characters in this story debuted in the first book in this series, so this was a circle-back that felt like coming home to these characters .I loved it! Ideally, a reader will have already read "Rough and Tumble" - the first book in the series - but even if that hasn't happened...there's a great deal to enjoy in these pages.

The Men of Haven live by their own rules, and are unapologetic about the way they love and care for their own. One of the things this talented author gives a reader is a sense of belonging in their world. It was quite easy to drop back into the world these characters live in, even after so long. This had all the things I enjoy about this genre:
Drama, loyalties, suspense, steamy chemistry, determined women and their (perfect for them) supportive men.

While I will not spoil this read for you, I will caution a reader. There are a great many sections pertaining to addiction and recovery programs. I fortunately haven't been in a recovery program, and I found the repeated mention of her struggle was a bit much for me. I can imagine it may be difficult for someone who has faced a similar situation in their life to read some parts of this book, and for some, these portions would be very comforting.
This said, I ultimately finished this read with a great appreciation for the depth this author reached, and her ability to carry me along into Callie's struggle and Danny's responses and support for her.

This author's creativity always makes me smile, and she is one of my favorites. I recommend this book and her other offerings. And I do strongly recommend reading her series in the correct reading order to get the most from the characters and stories.

My free ARC came from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

As always Rhenna Morgan writes a story that is uplifting. Her characters are special and their stories are as well.

Danny and Callie have a sweet story that just shows the special. Their path to one another is full of forgiveness and second chances and is a beautiful story.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, this is so great! I cried, a lot. There is so much in this story. Love, hope, forgiveness and life. Danny and Callie really have huge hurdles to their HEA. Addiction is nasty business. This story does not shy away from these realities.

This is Men of Haven #7 but can easily be read as a standalone. Once you read this one, though, you’ll probably search out the earlier ones as well. It is that good.

Callie is a recovering alcoholic and junkie trying to start a new life after a year of sobriety. She has come back to Dallas to begin to make amends to those she has hurt, including her sister, Vivian. Vivian is the wife of one of the club members Danny belongs to. One of those club members is Jace, Vivian’s spouse, and Callie’s got a LOT of amends to make there!

Danny owns several custom car paint shops. He needs an office manager. Through an AA contact Callie shows up to apply for the job. Danny is torn. He needs an office manager and he has a soft spot for Callie even though she screwed him over times. Still it takes him several days and the wisdom of his club to take her on.

Things begin to heat up between them when … well… let’s not insert a spoiler.

Callie is an engaging character, dealing one day at a time with her sobriety. The author does not make her magically ‘cured’ - her character is plausible and yet appealing. She is easy to root for.

Danny is sexy and down to earth, nurturing his relationship with Callie instead of pressing ahead full steam before she is ready. He’s attractive, unconventional and comes with a huge ‘family.’ Though you don’t see as much about his family, the club, as you might in previous Men of Haven books. Still, if read as part of the series it is wonderful to get a glance at some of your old favorites. But as mentioned before, this can be read as a standalone and thoroughly enjoyed.

I look forward to recommended this book to my patrons.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

I think this may be Rhenna Morgan’s best book yet and my favorite in the series! If you’re looking for an emotional, character driven story that’s all about healing, family, acceptance, forgiveness, and love then you need this book in your life! I finished the book sniffling and wiping away happy tears. So good!